The goal of linguistics is the enrichment of knowledge about the nature, grammar and history of human language. Linguistics is a theoretical and applied discipline, akin to philosophy, anthropology and cognitive psychology.

The core areas of linguistic theory are phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. A grammar is a system of rules that characterize the phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics of a natural language. The properties of grammars are the central focus of linguistic theory.

Because language is central to all humanistic disciplines, as well as to several social science areas, it is studied from many points of view. Linguistics itself cannot be said to recognize a single optimal approach to the subject; hence the courses provide a variety of approaches that reflect the diversity of the field.